Newsletter

Hanzel is GSGA
player of year

MARIETTA — Doug Hanzel of Savannah was announced Saturday as the Tommy Barnes Award winner, signifying the Georgia State Golf Association’s overall player of the year for 2012.

Hanzel, 55, burst onto the senior competition scene in his first year of eligibility in impressive fashion on the state and national levels. Hanzel finished with 1,000 points, 565 more than the next-closest competitor to capture the Senior Men’s Player of the Year race.

Playing in the Georgia Senior Championship for the first time, Hanzel cruised to a 16-stroke win in Eatonton in what is believed to be the largest margin of victory in any GSGA-sanctioned competition.

Earlier in the year, Hanzel partnered with Bob Royak of Alpharetta to finish eighth at the Georgia Four-Ball Championship at Harbor Club in Greensboro. Hanzel finished sixth at the Georgia Mid-Am in Duluth.

Hanzel qualified for the U.S. Senior Open and was the low amateur. Hanzel then advanced to the second round of the U.S. Amateur in Cherry Hills Village, Colo., before falling to the eventual champion. He also reached match play at the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

Hanzel qualified for the USGA Senior Am in West Caldwell, N.J., where he reached the semifinals.

Nominate for

Hall of Fame

The Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame is accepting nominations for the Class of 2013 until Jan. 31. Candidates may be nominated as athletes or citation honorees. A complete description of nomination guidelines, requirements and forms can be found at gsahof.com.

The GSAHOF will induct four athletes, two citation honorees and present the inaugural M.A. Spellman Special Award at the induction ceremony in May at the Savannah Civic Center. All nominations will be evaluated during a review conducted by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees in February and March.